Wandering Eyes

Back in 2006, when the first two flashed past the winning post in the G1 Dewhurst S., they also earned themselves first and second places on the European Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. Galileo’s unbeaten son Teofilo topped the table by 1lb from Danehill’s dual Group 1-winning son Holy Roman Emperor, who had also been beaten into second place by Teofilo in the G1 National S. Holy Roman Emperor, for his part, had won four of his remaining five starts, notably taking the G1 Phoenix S. and the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. It didn’t take much imagination to envisage these two also fighting out the finish of the 2000 Guineas, but–extraordinarily–neither was to race again, for different reasons. The breeding world’s gain was definitely racing’s loss, as Vital Equine, a colt who was twice beaten around three lengths by Holy Roman Emperor, was to finish second in the 2000 Guineas, beaten only a length and a half. Both young stallions were to make a Classic impact, with Teofilo siring Pleascach (Irish 1000 Guineas) and Trading Leather (Irish Derby), while Holy Roman Emperor has been responsible for Homecoming Queen (1000 Guineas by nine lengths), Well Timed (Preis der Diana) and Romanised (Irish 2000 Guineas). Romanised, of course, has recently used his telling burst of acceleration to revive his career with victories in the G2 Minstrel S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville. Holy Roman Emperor has also gone close to siring an Irish Oaks winner, as Banimpire was beaten only a short head in the 2011 race, and his Group 1-winning son Morandi was second in the 2013 Prix du Jockey-Club. During a peripatetic career, he has also sired an Australian Derby winner in Mongolian Khan and a New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner in Rollout The Carpet. There have also been a couple of major earners in Hong Kong, in the form of Designs On Rome and Beauty Only, as well as the American Grade I winners Rich Tapestry (Santa Anita Sprint Championship) and Glorious Empire (Sword Dancer S.) and the Brazilian Group 1 scorers Salto Olimpico and Maraton. That adds up to quite an impressive collection for a stallion who is still only 15 years old and who has been priced no higher than €15,000 in 2018 and 2019. I think it is fair to say that Holy Roman Emperor and his progeny have often flown under the radar, with both Homecoming Queen and Romanised starting at 25-1 when they won their Classics. Holy Roman Emperor’s premature retirement came in such unusual circumstances that it is worth retelling the story. He had been retired unexpectedly in early March, when another first-rate son of Danehill, the 2000 Guineas winner George Washington, encountered serious fertility issues while standing his first season at Coolmore at a fee of €60,000. The situation at Coolmore was made all the more complicated by the fact that Rock of Gibraltar, another 2000 Guineas winner by Danehill, had been leased to Japan for the 2007 season and Danehill Dancer was already heavily booked at a fee of €115,000. Coolmore attempted to remedy this difficult situation by shuttling the top Australian stallion Encosta de Lago to Ireland, but he didn’t leave Australia until Mar. 20, and Holy Roman Emperor carried most of the burden, covering 136 mares compared to Encosta de Lago’s 59. While the decision to retire Holy Roman Emperor can’t have been easy, I have always wondered whether connections were worried that his racing prospects at three might be compromised by his lack of size, as he stands just over 15.2 hands. However, Holy Roman Emperor had been very progressive as a 2-year-old, with his Dewhurst second arguably representing his best effort, and many of his progeny have thrived after the age of two. Good examples include Designs On Rome, Beauty Only, Rich Tapestry and Glorious Empire, all of whom were all at least five year olds when they recorded their last Group 1 success. It is surely no coincidence that Romanised is owned by the Hong Kong-based Robert Ng, as Holy Roman Emperor’s progeny have been extremely popular and successful there. In addition to Designs On Rome and Beauty Only, the American Grade I winner Rich Tapestry was originally based in Hong Kong after leaving Ireland, and so too was Glorious Empire. The speedy Charles The Great was another who developed into a group winner in Hong Kong after a useful juvenile career in England. Romanised’s appeal to Mr. Ng no doubt owed a lot to the fact that he shares the same sire and the same Moyglare Stud female line as Designs On Rome, with his dam, the Indian Ridge mare Romantic Venture, being a half-sister to Designs On Rome. In becoming something of a superstar in Hong Kong, Designs On Rome gained four Group 1 wins over a mile and a quarter and a Group 2 over a mile. Romanised has so far raced exclusively at up to a mile, which is what might be expected of a Holy Roman Emperor colt out of an Indian Ridge mare who won over 8.5 furlongs on her debut at three. However, there is a distinct theoretical possibility that he too could stay a mile and a quarter. His dam Romantic Venture may have had a sprinter as her sire but she also had the dual Arc winner Alleged–whose progeny had a high average winning distance of 11.6 furlongs–as her broodmare sire. Romantic Venture managed only one further start, at Group 3 level, before joining the Moyglare broodmare band but she was culled for €40,000 as an 11-year-old in 2008. Since then she has demonstrated how difficult it can be to establish the stamina potential of mares who are the product to two extremes. Fictional Account, her Moyglare-bred filly by the champion sprinter Stravinsky, showed Alleged’s influence rather than those of Stravinsky and Indian Ridge. Her two listed victories came over a mile-and-three-quarters at The Curragh and two miles at Ascot. It was a similar story when Romantic Venture was mated to the top miler Rock of Gibraltar, a horse bred to a similar pattern to Holy Roman Emperor. The result was Rock of Romance, winner of the G3 St Leger Italiano over a mile-and-three-quarters and a German listed race over two miles. Romanised’s second dam Summer Trysting, produced middle-distance Group winners to three fast horses, including Romantic Venture’s smart brother Sights On Gold, who was once beaten only half a length by Phoenix Reach in the G1 Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half. Simple Exchange, Summer Trysting’s colt by Romanised’s grandsire Danehill, won the GII American Derby over 1 3/16 miles. Romanised’s third dam Bubinka did sterling work for Moyglare and Romanised ranks alongside the Irish Derby and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Grey Swallow and the Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera winner Covert Love as one of four Group 1 winners descending from her. The post Pedigree Insights: Romanised appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Investec Oaks (G1) winner will likely not challenge stablemate Enable View the full article

The GI Pattison Canadian International winner Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was sold by private treaty in early July, will stand next season at Graham Heal’s Vauterhill Stud in Devon. The 8-year-old stallion—a half-brother to this season’s Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})—formerly stood at Worsall Grange Farm in Yorkshire and was offered for sale when his previous owner Killashee House Ltd was placed in administration. A number of broodmares and young stock under the same ownership were sold at the Exeter Livestock Centre through auctioneers Kivells on behalf of the administrators Moorfields. James Morrish, who has conducted two auctions and the private sale of Cannock Chase for Kivells, told TDN on Monday, “I cannot disclose the identity of Cannock Chase’s new owner but he is now at Vauterhill Stud not far from here.” Morrish also indicated that the two other former residents of the Worsall Grange stallion yard, the treble Italian Group 1 winner Dylan Mouth (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and juvenile Group 3 winner Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}), are also now for sale privately. “Both stallions are in very good condition and are being well looked after at a stud in the Midlands. Potential buyers can arrange an inspection by appointment through Moorfields of London,” he added. Bred by Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Studs, Cannock Chase won five races for Saeed Suhail and Sir Michael Stoute, including his top-level strike at Woodbine and the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot in 2014, three years after his full-brother Pisco Sour won the same race for Hughie Morrison. This season, Star Catcher became the third offspring of the Horse Chestnut (SAF) mare Lynnwood Chase to win at the Royal meeting when landing the G2 Ribblesdale S. for her breeder before going on to Classic glory at the Curragh. The former champion amateur rider Lucy Horner, who managed Worsall Grange Farm and was listed as one of the company directors of Killashee House Ltd along with Kahlil de Burca, died last month at the age of 42. The post Cannock Chase To Stand At Vauterhill Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. –The confluence of the number 13 and the word “upset” came into play perfectly Aug. 13, 1919, in a race that gave birth to Saratoga’s oft-repeated citation as “The Graveyard of Favorites.” Bad luck was a key ingredient to the only defeat of Man o’ War, whose talents, even as a youngster, were considered otherworldly. That the Sanford S. was won by a horse coincidentally named Upset adds to the story. That the riders of both Man o’ War and Upset were denied licenses–without comment from The Jockey Club when their riding licenses came up for renewal the next year–adds to its legend. Heading into the six-furlong Sanford, it’s difficult to overstate the regard held for Man o’ War not only by the public but also by veteran horsemen and journalists, who unashamedly compared him to the earlier greats of the then-young 20th century, Colin and Sysonby. That respect was earned with the ease of his victories in six previous outings, five of which were in stakes races, the last of which was a comfortable two-length tally over Upset, to whom he was conceding 15 pounds, in the United States Hotel S. over the course and distance of the Sanford. Even though the margins of victory weren’t nearly as gaudy as they would be during his campaign as a 3-year-old, racegoers knew that most of rider Johnny Loftus’s energy was expended on throttling down his mount well before the wire. Man o’ War’s bad luck began the morning of the race, when word came that starter Mars Cassidy was ill and unable to perform his duties that day. Summoned from the patrol judge’s booth was a former starter, the venerable Charles Pettingill. Pettingill had years of experience as a racing official, landing in New York after a tenure in the Midwest. “Mr. Pettingill is widely and favorably known as a racing official,” said the Morning Telegraph in its Aug. 15, 1900, edition, adding that he “… has the confidence of all horsemen,” and that with him in the stands “horsemen and the public will be well served.” Unmentioned in the report was Pettingill’s role in the 1893 World’s Fair American Derby. Run amidst Chicago’s marvels, mayhem and mass murders that year, as chronicled in Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City,” Daily Racing Form breathlessly described the race nearly 40 years later in its June 22, 1935, editions as “one of the most sensational races run anywhere.” The race featured Hall of Fame rider Edward “Snapper” Garrison at his resourceful best. “The horses were at the post for an hour and a half, during which Garrison received permission from the starter to dismount and fix the saddle girth on Boundless,” DRF reported. “While the other horses were fretting and stamping about with their weight up, Boundless was taking things easy with the result that when they finally were off he was a decidedly fresh horse. In the home stretch Garrison called on Boundless and he came with a rush to win by six lengths.” Pettingill would have been comfortable if people had forgotten about that American Derby so many years before and, in a sense, the Sanford would go a long way toward achieving that hope, although perhaps not in a manner he would have preferred. Man o’ War’s presence in the Sanford, run on a Wednesday, enticed 20,000 fans to the track. Before the advent of pari-mutuel wagering, action was handled by bookmakers, and in most books the price on Man o’ War was 1-2, with Golden Broom the second-choice, and the co-highweight at 130 pounds, at around 5-2. Upset, with wily Willie Knapp aboard, and once again carrying 15 pounds less than Man o’ War, was 8-1. Pettingill kept the field of seven at bay for several minutes before letting them go, and when he did Man o’ War was sideways and thoroughly unprepared. “Man o’ War was very fractious at the gate that day,” Loftus told Sports Illustrated‘s Jack Mahon in 1966. “He broke through about three times before the starter warned me to quiet down–or else. “I wheeled Man o’ War around for another try. My head was turned when the field was sent away. I wasn’t ready.” Golden Broom broke sharply to get the early lead with Upset assuming the stalker’s position. Man o’ War and Loftus gathered themselves and got back into the fray approaching the turn, but at that point it was Knapp’s game to lose: Ahead of him he had Golden Broom in his crosshairs, and behind him he had Man o’ War locked in what he called “a mousetrap,” pinned to the rail. He kept him there as long as possible, but at the eighth pole, deciding he could wait no longer, he let Upset go, gaining the lead while freeing Man o’ War, which led to a nail-biting final furlong. Upset lasted, just barely, and he got to the wire with DRF‘s official margin being a half-length, although Knapp insisted it was only Upset’s head that beat Man o’ War to the line. Whatever the margin, it was rapidly diminishing. Man o’ War was in front 20 feet beyond the wire. Loftus and Man o’ War would exact their revenge next time out in the Grand Union Hotel S., then again in the Hopeful S., both at Saratoga, and they concluded the campaign with victory in Belmont’s Futurity S. Without explanation, The Jockey Club denied both Loftus and Knapp their riding licenses the next year, and neither rode competitively again. Knapp enjoyed recounting the race to fans, horsemen and journalists while Loftus went to extreme measures to avoid the topic, even ducking his induction into the Jockey Hall of Fame at Pimlico so as to avoid talking about a $4,950 race more than 40 years in his past. “I was the goat. That’s all there was to it. It could happen to anyone,” he told Mahon. “Heck, if a ballplayer makes an error, it’s forgotten.” Some baseball fans may disagree with that assertion: It took a championship 13 years later for Chicago Cub fans to forgive Steve Bartman for interfering with a foul ball that, if caught, could have helped their team snap a World Series drought that would eventually hit 108 years, and it took 18 years and a championship in 2004 before Red Sox fans could forgive Bill Buckner, a former Cub playing for Boston, for his fielding miscue that helped extend a World Series drought that reached 85 years. And maybe it’s coincidental that the “Black Sox Scandal” and the fallout from the fixed World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds would taint the sporting world less than two months after the Sanford. It’s a World Series that wasn’t forgotten, especially by Hollywood: Well after Loftus’s passing, the series was detailed in the hit movie “Eight Men Out” and was significantly referenced in “Field of Dreams.” Perhaps redemption would have come to Loftus, a Chicago native, had he been relicensed and allowed to ride Man o’ War to his great victories as a 3-year-old in 1920, a campaign in which he set five American records, seven track records, and equaled an eighth, while concluding his career with 20 wins in 21 starts and earnings of $249,465. But Loftus was in constant company with the metaphorical black dog for his ride aboard Big Red. “Johnny was so humiliated that he didn’t speak to me for two or three weeks following the race,” said Knapp, who earned $25 for engineering Upset’s upset and who vigorously disputed allegations against his friend and rival. “Any talk of Johnny Loftus pulling Man o’ War in the Sanford is pure bunk. I don’t think he would have taken $100,000 to throw that race.” Loftus and Knapp were among the top jockeys of the era. Loftus was the regular rider of Sir Barton, who had swept the classics of 1919, while Knapp was “The Giant Killer” of his day: In addition to his defeat of Man o’ War, he beat three Kentucky Derby winners with the otherwise undistinguished 9-year-old gelding Borrow in the 1917 Brooklyn H. and he won the 1918 Kentucky Derby with 30-1 Exterminator. For their riding ability they were inducted into racing’s National Hall of Fame, Loftus in 1959 and Knapp in 1969. Although denied riding licenses, they both had successful second careers as trainers. Loftus died in California at 81 in 1976; Knapp passed away at 84 in 1972, a day after he was hit by a car in New York. Man o’ War went to stud in 1921. His groom during his racing career was Frank Loftus, no relation to the jockey. His first groom after his retirement from racing was John Buckner, no relation to the ballplayer. Man o’ War lived to be 30, dying in 1947. He was embalmed and had 2,000 mourners at his funeral in Lexington, Ky. The post 100 Years Ago Today: Man o’ War’s Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

America's Best Racing announced Aug. 12 the creation of the inaugural "America's Best Racing Fan Choice Awards," including a partnership with the Secretariat Vox Populi Award. View the full article

A guide, compiled by America's Best Racing, to television and radio horse racing coverage during Pacific Classic week. View the full article

In the space of a fortnight, Shadai Stallion Station lost its two flagship stallions, Deep Impact (Jpn) on July 30, and King Kamehameha (Jpn) on Aug.10. The pair won back-to-back runnings of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in 2004 and 2005. A year older than Deep Impact at 18, King Kamehameha had been pensioned earlier this year and his legacy at stud was outlined by Kelsey Riley in Saturday’s TDN. Losing two such heavyweights in the same year is doubtless a blow to Shadai but in Japan’s stallion table for this year, King Kamehameha is joined in the top six by two of his sons—Rulership (Jpn) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)—while two Shadai-based sons of Sunday Silence other than Deep Impact—Heart’s Cry (Jpn) and Daiwa Major (Jpn)—currently feature in the top seven. Further consolation can be found in the GI Arlington Million victory of Bricks And Mortar (Giant’s Causeway). The breeding rights to America’s leading turf horse were secured by the Yoshida brothers in the days leading up to the race and he will retire to Shadai after the Breeders’ Cup. Deep Impact remains way out in front on the sires’ list and is likely to hold that distinction for several years to come while the hunt goes on for his successor. Six of his sons currently occupy the Shadai roster. Deep Impact’s major earner this season is the Derby winner Roger Barows (Jpn), who will sadly not be seen on the racecourse again after it was announced last week that he will be retiring to stud following a bout of tendonitis. His exit from the racing scene at the age of only three in a country where it is pleasingly routine for the top performers to race on until the ages of six or seven was perhaps expedited by his sire’s regrettable death. Only last year we were witness to two European Classics falling to sons of Deep Impact with the victory of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) in the 2000 Guineas followed by Study Of Man (Ire) in the Prix du Jockey Club, and in the last week Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) posted his first European winner. The Johnny Murtagh-trained Know It All (GB), a half-sister to the Group 3-winning sprinter Astrophysical Jet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), struck at the Curragh for her breeder Qatar Bloodstock on her second start and could head next to the G2 Debutante S. Members of Lord Kanaloa’s first crop are only four and they are led by Almond Eye (Jpn), whose versatility was exemplified by her Triple Tiara success before she set a new record time in the Japan Cup over 12 furlongs and then dropped back to nine furlongs to win the G1 Dubai Turf. Her longed-for foray into Europe did not come about, but she ran with great credit when third in the Arima Kinen over a mile and her sire’s flag was flown again this summer when Saturnalia (Jpn) became his latest Classic winner in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). Lord Kanaloa, has likely been extra busy this covering season in the absence of his sire and partial absence of Deep Impact, though in his first five years at stud he never covered less than 250 mares, and in 2018 that figure rose to 294. He is certainly a stallion of whom we will be hearing much more in the years to come, hopefully in Europe as well as in Japan. French King Rules Germany The Night Shift branch of the Northern Dancer sireline hangs by several threads, and perhaps its most celebrated member in this part of the world in recent years was the National Hunt stallion Midnight Legend (GB), who died in 2016 at the age of 25. Night Shift’s former Spanish-based son Dyhim Diamond (Ire) gave the line a lift a little while back when his G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Turtle Bowl (Ire) made an eye-catching start to his own stud career at Haras de Montaigu. The exploits of his first-season representatives Lucayan (Fr) and French Fifteen (Fr) in particular raised the interest of the Yoshida brothers, who bought Turtle Bowl to join Shadai in time for the 2013 covering season. Sadly he lived for less than five years after that before succumbing to a heart attack. But the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Lucayan and French Fifteen, who was runner-up to Camelot (GB) in the 2000 Guineas, are both now at stud themselves and the latter was represented by his first Group 1 winner on Sunday. The boldly named French King (Fr), homebred by HH Sheikh Abdulla Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Umm Qarn Farms, has leapt from success in the Emir’s Trophy at his owner’s local Al Rayyan racecourse in Doha back in February to win three consecutive group races in Germany under the tutelage of Henri-Alex Pantall, whose stable has also enjoyed Classic success this year with Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal). French King’s victory in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin on Sunday came at the expense of another admirably consistent performer, the Mark Johnston-trained Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}). From that same small first crop of less than 50 foals conceived at Haras du Logis Saint Germain, French Fifteen is also represented by the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Sestilio Jet (Fr), while last season’s Deauville listed winner Teckwin (Fr) is now a winner in Hong Kong under the name of Flat Heaven. Unholy Criticism It was disappointing to hear on Sky Sports Racing such criticism about the weakness of Europe’s mile division after the victory of Robert Ng’s Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois. Yes, Too Darn Hot (GB) has fallen by the wayside, and Laurens (Fr) wasn’t there, but Romanised is hardly some colt from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s a Classic winner whose form this season has improved steadily, run to run, from finishing fourth in both the Lockinge and the Queen Anne before winning the G2 Minstrel S. and then beating a field which included recent G1 Coronation S. winner Watch Me (Fr), last year’s Jockey Club winner Study Of Man (Ire) and Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up Shaman (Ire) on Sunday. Romanised also served a reminder to breeders queuing up for unproven fashion among the freshman ranks that his sire Holy Roman Emperor remains one of the best value proven sires in Europe. His fee for the last two seasons has been just €15,000, and for a good-looking former top-notcher of a juvenile, who has proved as adept with fillies as with colts, and of appeal to the rich Hong Kong market, he’s a much safer bet than many stallions out there. The British and Irish domination of France’s group races continues, but it was good to see a different face in the winner’s enclosure at Deauville as the understated Ken Condon went up to collect the trainer’s prize for his stable star. Freshman Firsts Along with the excitement of a first domestic Group 1 winner for Ger Lyons with the impressive Siskin (First Defence) in the Keeneland Phoenix S., the trainer was also associated with another first this week, this time for the Irish National Stud stallion Free Eagle (Ire), for whom the listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. win of Justifier (Ire) was a first black-type success. The stakes are rising in the freshman championship, quite literally, with Hot Streak (GB) having his first listed winner in France last weekend via the Richard Fahey-trained Flaming Princess (Ire), while Golden Horn (GB)’s daughter West End Girl (GB) won the G3 german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket. The latter, out of a Dansili (GB) half-sister to top sprinter Reckless Abandon (Exchange Rate), was bred by Car Colston Hall Stud, which brings a rather nice link to the race sponsor, as one of the most famous graduates of the Nottinghamshire farm is Soldier Hollow (GB) (In The Wings {Ire}), who is now the leading sire in Germany. They breed ’em tough at Car Colston Hall. The diminutive Soldier Hollow won 12 of his 31 races, including four Group 1s, racing successfully until he was seven. His fellow graduate Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is another such example. The half-brother to dual American GI winner Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), and indeed to West End Girl’s grandam Sant Elena (GB) (Efisio {GB}), is also still in training at seven. Now the winner of nine of his 35 races, including the 2017 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, he was last seen being beaten only a neck for second in that same race by Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) on Aug. 4. Charlie’s Angel We all love Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), of course, but giving her a good run in the race to be considered the best European-bred mare in training is the admirable Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who won her second GI Beverly D S. on Saturday and her fifth straight Grade 1 (sixth in total) since joining Chad Brown’s stable. We’ll be hearing plenty more of this family come Saturday night when her Fastnet Rock (Aus) half-brother goes through the ring at Arqana’s August Sale as lot 21. Their dam Starlet’s Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) hardly needed another update for she also has provided this year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), but her eldest child continues to do her proud. The Ecurie des Monceaux draft was also given a boost in the G1 Arlington Million courtesy of an admirable performance from Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was runner-up to Bricks And Mortar. Her Dubawi (Ire) half-sister will sell on Sunday evening as lot 148. The post The Weekly Wrap: Long Live The King appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 552 lots comprise Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale slated for Oct. 8-10, among them lot 288, a Norelands Stud-consigned half-brother to Arc hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) by Frankel (GB). Star sires Dubawi (Ire) has 29 yearlings offered, while Galileo (Ire) has 23, the latter’s son Frankel (GB) has 40 and 41 will go under the hammer by Frankel’s barnmate Kingman (GB). Sea The Stars (Ire) (31), Shamardal (8) and Dark Angel (Ire) (30) are also represented. Fifty-nine yearlings are either half- or full siblings to Classic or Group 1 winners and 243 are half- or full-siblings to group/listed scorers. Twenty-one Classic or Group 1-winning mares have yearlings catalogued. All of the yearlings are eligible for the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme. “Graduates of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale have enjoyed another stellar year with the likes of this year’s dual Royal Ascot Group 1 winner Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) and outstanding Classic and Group 1 winners Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) flying the flag throughout Europe,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “The achievements of Book 1 purchases at the highest level in America have further demonstrated the uniquely global appeal of Europe’s premier yearling sale and this year’s catalogue is yet another in a long sequence of truly exceptional Book 1 catalogues. We have an extraordinary number of yearlings by the very best of an outstanding cast of European sires and, crucially for buyers at every level of Book 1, all 552 Book 1 yearlings can reward owners with the unprecedented prize money offered through the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme.” More to follow… The post Frankel Half-brother to Golden Horn Part of Tattersalls October Book 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hawke’s Bay Racing is excited to announce that two legends of New Zealand broadcasting will attend Tarzino Trophy TAB Daffodil Raceday on Saturday August 31 at Hastings. SKY Sport commentators Grant Nisbett and Ian Smith have taken time away from Mitre 10 Cup duties to step in as guest presenters for TAB Trackside. This year’s event is a celebration of ‘Rugby, Racing and Volunteers’ to raise money for the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society. “Their involvement in the day certainly creates ano... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with co-trainer Emma Haworth about Red Sierra’s win at Riccarton on Saturday.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins catches up with trainer Ken Duncan after Alfie Dee’s win in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) last week.... View the full article

Trackside Radio’s Des Coppins speaks with trainer Harvey Wilson after It’s A Wonder took out the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) on Saturday.... View the full article

Brighthill Farm will parade their stallions at their Waikato property (1352 Tauwhare Road, Hamilton) this Friday, August 16, at 2pm. Breeders will be able to view Brighthill’s four resident stallion, including the farm’s new season stallion Eminent. The son of Frankel won three of his 14 careers starts, including the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000) and Gr.3 Craven Stakes (1600m), and was Group One placed in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Irish Champion Stakes (2000m). He will stand for ... View the full article

Promising staying mare Shared Secrets has been forced into retirement on a winning note. The daughter of Nadeem was on target to chase a sought-after black type win after scoring over 2500m at Hastings on April 13, but instead her connections are now working on plans for her as a broodmare. “About a week after she won at Hastings she sprained the ligament over her back hock,” trainer Mark Oulaghan said. “She was all set to go down to Riccarton in early May, but instead she ended up at Mas... View the full article

A patient ride by jockey Abel Cedillo proved worthwhile aboard Law Abidin Citizen as the pair inched just in front of favorite Anyportinastorm at the wire to win the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) Aug. 11 at Emerald Downs. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale opened Sunday evening with a session of steady action capped by a son of Constitution who sold for $340,000 to trainer John Terranova. “It was a solid opening session to the New York-Bred sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was lots of interest across the board. We continue to see the strength of the New York-bred market. It was on display again tonight.” The two-day auction has a slightly different format this year, with Sunday evening’s somewhat abbreviated session of just 119 catalogued head to be followed by a longer session Monday. The change in format makes direct comparisons impossible. In all, 66 yearlings sold Sunday in Saratoga for a total of $5,972,500. The average was $90,492 and the median was $75,000. With 31 of 97 offered head failing to reach their reserve, the buy-back rate was 32%. During last year’s opening session of the New York sale, 80 of 136 offered yearlings grossed $8,326,000 for an average of $104,075 and a median of $75,000. The buy-back rate was 41%. “We can talk about overall results tomorrow after we get comparable figures for the two days because then it will be apples to apples,” Browning said Sunday night. “It was a pretty consistent marketplace tonight. The median is virtually the same as last year and the average is down a little bit. But I think we’ve got a lot of outstanding horses tomorrow.” The session-topping son of Constitution, who was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbreds, was one of seven to sell for $200,000 or over. And the 11 highest priced horses of the session, purchased by a seemingly even mixture of end-users and pinhookers, were acquired by 11 different buying interests. The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale’s final session gets underway Monday at noon in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. Constitution Colt to Terranova Trainer John Terranova made a final bid of $340,000 to acquire a colt by hot first-crop sire Constitution during Sunday’s first session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. Terranova, bidding out back, purchased the yearling (hip 342) on behalf of an undisclosed client. “We were really happy we got him,” Terranova said. “We looked at him and thought he was the best horse in the sale. Obviously, Constitution has gotten off to a fast start with his 2-year-olds and he has had some versatile runners on the track already.” The bay colt was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services on behalf of his breeder, Maurice and Samantha Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud. He is out of Akris Queen (Arch), a mare Terranova trained on behalf of the Regans, and his second dam is Catnip (Flying Paster), who produced graded stakes winners Indescribable (Pleasant Tap) and Micromanage (Medaglia d’Oro). “I actually trained the mare and she has big pedigree and she was a nice sound filly,” Terranova said. “So it’s nice to see her throw a good-looking colt like that.” Multiple Grade I winner Constitution has been represented by seven winners to date, including graded stakes winners Amalfi Sunrise and By Your Side. “With everything lining up–with the sire getting as hot as he has been currently, and this horse’s physical was really, really strong-just all of the stars lined up at the same time. So we had the feeling he could bring that,” said Newtown Anner advisor Nick Sallusto. Reeves Strikes for Runhappy Filly Patti Reeves, who along with husband Dean, and R. A. Hill Stable, and Corms Racing Stable campaigns recent GII Jim Dandy S. winner Tax (Arch), teamed with those partners again to add a filly by Runhappy to the roster when signing the ticket at $300,000 on hip 380 Sunday in Saratoga. Reeves did her bidding in the pavilion with Tax’s trainer Danny Gargan sitting not far away. “We loved her from the start-she is just a gorgeous filly-and we love the incentive program for the New York-breds,” Reeves said. “The incentives for New York breds are heads and shoulders above other states. We wish we had something like that in the state in Georgia and if we ever get horse racing in the state of Georgia, that’s what we will do.” The yearling is out of stakes-placed Charismata (Curlin), a half-sister to stakes winner Little Dancer (Successful Appeal). She was consigned by Gainesway on behalf of Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. and partners. The mare, in foal to Constitution, RNA’d for $42,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Her Constitution colt, also bred by Browning and Billy Terrell, sold for $70,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale. Partnership for Twirling Candy Filly Johns Martin, Bill Rucker, Bob Hahn, and Richard Nicolai partnered to purchase a filly by Twirling Candy Sunday in Saratoga, with trainer Jeremiah Englehart bidding $260,000 to acquire hip 353 from the Denali Stud consignment. “This is a filly that we really like and hoped that she would fall in our range. And she did. So it was good,” Englehart said. The trainer continued, “We bought a few horses at the select sale, and obviously having New York ties, we wanted to look here, too. And we found a few New York-breds hopefully we can buy.” The yearling is out of Awesome Bull (Holy Bull), who like her dam, was bred by Vivien Malloy’s Edition Farm. “She is a beautiful mare,” Malloy said of Awesome Bull, whose first foal was $344,500 earner Awesome News (Congrats). “She just needs somebody to give her more black-type. I turned to my trainer this morning and told him it was his fault that she doesn’t have black-type because Awesome News ran her eyeballs out and they never tried to get black-type. She belonged to a syndicate and all they wanted to do was win. But breeders want black-type.” A longtime New York breeder, Malloy admitted it was gratifying to see the ever-expanding growth of the New York market. “The years behind us were pretty grim,” Malloy said. “And I’m so proud of New York and the program and the people interested in New York-breds now.” As New York-breds continue to succeed beyond the state’s borders, Malloy is watching horses she has bred compete across the country. “I have bred and sold two colts who are running at Del Mar,” she said. “One broke his maiden at Del Mar and another one just got second. It’s great to see.” The post Solid Opener to F-T New York-Bred Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bad Boy Racing's Danuska's My Girl led every step of the $101,404 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) Aug. 11 at Del Mar to pick up her third graded stakes victory of the year. View the full article

With a gate-to-wire performance, British-bred Mr Ritz waltzed home in the CA$131,500 (US$99,414) Seagram Cup Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, scoring his first graded stakes for owner/breeder Earl I. Mack and trainer Josie Carroll Aug. 11. View the full article

Shadows Cast winning the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). Mark Oulaghan is set to start the star of his stable, Shadows Cast, fresh-up in the first leg of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown later this month. Shadows Cast, winner of the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last January, has been freshened since his last start on his home track on Anzac Day and Oulaghan is hoping to have him ready for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on August 31. “The plan is to get a trial into him then go straight into the Tarzino,” the Awapuni trainer said. “He had six or seven weeks off after his run here and I’m happy with him.” Shadows Cast has been nominated for all three Hawke’s Bay features, but isn’t likely to press on for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) on October 5 after contesting the second leg, the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m), on September 21. “It’s pretty doubtful he’ll run in the last one (Livamol Classic),” Oulaghan said. “The mile race (the Windsor Park Plate) is his main aim and I think he’ll be pretty competitive in that. “It’s going to be a bit tough going 1400m first-up in the Tarzino, but it should get him fitter for the second one. “I’ll probably back off him after the mile race and set him for the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham in early December.” Shadows Cast recorded consecutive black type wins last season, taking the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni last December then the Thorndon Mile. He was a creditable sixth in the Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki, then eighth in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in his first start beyond 1600m. Oulaghan then freshened the son of Per Incanto to run a short head second to the smart up-and-comer Rock On Wood in the Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) at Awapuni on Anzac Day when giving the winner seven kilograms. Shadows Cast, now a seven-year-old, has won almost a third of his 36 starts for owner Ron Cunningham and earned $435,202 in prizemoney. Of his 10 wins, his first black type victory came when deadheating for first with Son Of Maher in the 2017 Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton. Oulaghan has just returned from his annual trip to Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing and, though he had no joy with his two runners, Des De Jeu and Paddy Bourke, his highlight came when his former apprentice Tim Johnson registered his first jumps win aboard the John Wheeler-trained Abacus on Saturday. “I was quite chuffed for him,” Oulaghan said. “He hasn’t had many rides over fences and he handled the horse well.” Abacus was the seventh jumps ride for Johnson, who completed his apprenticeship early last season. He has had 75 wins on the flat, including two black type wins. Oulaghan had no joy in his bid to add to his record of six Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) wins with his charge Des De Jeu, but he is satisfied the seven-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu showed enough with his fourth to It’s A Wonder to be back next year. “He’s just a novice horse at this stage and I thought he went well for a horse still learning,” he said. “He fell in the Koral (Steeplechase, 4250m) on the first day, but that didn’t make a lot of difference to his chances in the Grand National. “He came through it all right, but I’ll probably spell him now. He’s too much of a novice at this stage to go over the hill at Ellerslie (in the Great Northern Steeplechase, 6400m). He’ll keep for next year.” View the full article

A Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) tilt is on the cards for Rock On Wood. Levin trainer Leanne Elliot could get an opportunity to add another Riccarton highlight to her list of achievements. Elliot has put the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at the New Zealand Cup meeting in November among the options for her smart galloper Rock On Wood and if the trip eventuates it will be a return to the scene of her most memorable win as a jockey. It was 24 years ago that Elliot, as a jumps jockey, guided Just Red to victory in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), then two years later the pair returned to finish third in the feature after being runner-up in the 1996 Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie. Each year Elliot gets a chance to reminisce as she watches the Riccarton feature and she was thrilled for Waverley trainer and part-owner Harvey Wilson to see his dashing jumper It’s A Wonder win this year’s Grand National Steeplechase in the hands of Shaun Phelan on Saturday. Though reminiscing can be enjoyable, it doesn’t win more races and Elliot is more focused on what lies ahead, especially with Rock On Wood. “It would be nice if he could get down there in November, but it’s early days yet,” she said. “He’s been in work for a month and I’m really happy with how he did during his spell. He looks good and I’ll just take him along slowly and probably give him a couple of trials. “I’ll then have to find the right race to start him off in. He’s up in better class now and it’s not going to be easy for him. “The Coupland’s Mile is one of the races we’re looking at, but I’ve got no (set) programme for him yet. I’ll just see how he is after his trials.” A $26,000 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale purchase, Rock On Wood has amassed almost $100,000 in prizemoney as the result of five wins and three placings from nine starts. The son of Redwood was unbeaten in his three outings last campaign, beginning with a Rating 72 1300m victory at Hastings on February 28 and culminating in a win over Group One winner Shadows Cast in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1600m) at Awapuni on April 25. Three of Rock On Wood’s five wins have been over 1600m and Elliot will initially concentrate on metric mile events for him this season, though she will later consider stretching him over more ground. “I’d like to get him over ground,” she said. “I’ve tried him a couple of times, but he is stronger now.” Elliot has just two horses in work, the other being another son of Redwood, a two-year-old gelding bought as a weanling off Gavelhouse.com, while a third member of her team, Hi Golly, was unplaced in two starts but has pleased her with his development during his spell. Meanwhile, Elliot has been focused on the deeds of her son, Ryan, who completed his apprenticeship with Graeme Rogerson last month as the champion apprentice with 60 wins for the season and a career tally of 160 wins. That success last season included the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) on Gorbachev and the Gr.3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m) on Prince Jabeel. View the full article

Mark Oulaghan is set to start the star of his stable, Shadows Cast, fresh-up in the first leg of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown later this month. Shadows Cast, winner of the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last January, has been freshened since his last start on his home track on Anzac Day and Oulaghan is hoping to have him ready for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on August 31. “The plan is to get a trial into him then go straight into the Tarzino,” the Awapuni trainer sa... View the full article

Levin trainer Leanne Elliot could get an opportunity to add another Riccarton highlight to her list of achievements. Elliot has put the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at the New Zealand Cup meeting in November among the options for her smart galloper Rock On Wood and if the trip eventuates it will be a return to the scene of her most memorable win as a jockey. It was 24 years ago that Elliot, as a jumps jockey, guided Just Red to victory in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), then ... View the full article

Michael Rodd steers Fireworks (along rails) home to just pip favourite Kuda Bagus on the outside. Leading jockey Michael Rodd returned from an enforced holiday a winner aboard a longshot on Sunday. The Australian rider was outed for two weeks for careless riding aboard Elite Excalibur in the Jumbo Jet Trophy on July 28. The aptly-named Fireworks (NZ) (Ekraar) two days after National Day, for his main supporter Cliff Brown, was the winning ride in the $20,000 Open Maiden Division 2 race over 1400m. Rodd said that as much as he enjoyed his break with his family, it was good to get back to work, and even better when a winner is at the receiving end. “I had a nice break, but it’s good to be back,” he said. “Cliff (currently on holidays in Australia) called. He doesn’t get too excited about his horses but he was up and about this one. “He said he should finish in the top three. He goes all right and he had a lovely run. “He’s honest and he tries hard.” Even if Rodd missed three meetings, he was still able to comfortably maintain his second place behind current runaway leader Vlad Duric at a healthy gap of nine winners – 55 wins versus 46 wins. Brown’s stable supervisor Tony Lane said that Fireworks ($101), who was shedding his maiden status at his seventh start, had been a work in progress, but there have been some telltale signs of improvement of late. “It wasn’t really a surprise. He got a great ride and he ran a great race,” said Lane. “His trackwork has been better and he’s eating well. He’s also a bit dry coated, and he’s started to sweat which is a big thing in Singapore. “It’s good for his owners (Buffalo Stable). He’s a nice horse going forward and we’ll see how he goes from now on.” Fireworks, who had never really shown early gate speed before, was the best away on Sunday. Once Rodd was able to slot him onto the fence in fourth spot, he enjoyed an economical run throughout. Into the straight, short-priced favourite Kuda Bagus attacked the line on the outside while Fireworks picked his way between Lord Justice and race-leader Glamorous at the 150m. The two horses finished locked together on the line, but the photo finish gave the verdict to Fireworks by a nose. Lord Justice hung on for third place another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 23.68secs for the 1400m on the Short Course. – STC View the full article

Mr Malek scores a dominant win on Sunday. Odds-on favourite Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) showed that his closing debut third was no flash in the pan after he followed up with a resounding win in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Sunday. The three-year-old had to get back in the field from a wide gate at his first race, but from barrier No 1 second-up, he could be ridden more positive by Patrick Moloney as he kicked up on the rails to lead. At least momentarily, as he soon received some pressure on his outside when two other newcomers, Supermax and Superlative, came serving it to him in a line of three, but a cool and composed Moloney knew what he had underneath. Rounding the home turn, it was still anyone’s race, but as Supermax ducked to the fence, Mr Malek came off his heels, and the rest just turned into a procession. Oscar Racing Stable’s new find let down with a devastating turn of speed to go and score by a widening margin of 4 ¾ lengths from Supermax with Iron Ruler third another three parts of a length away. Punted down to $9 favouritism, Mr Malek clocked 1min 9.66secs for the 1200m on the Short Course. Freedman said Mr Malek was a “terror” when he just landed in his yard, but it was currently suspended jockey Joseph Azzopardi – who rode Freedman’s recent Singapore Derby winner Sun Marshal – who helped cool his jets. “He made the grade, we can’t do anymore than that,” said the Australian trainer. “Joe Azzopardi has a high opinion of this horse. He did all the work on him, but Patrick Moloney did a good job on him today. “The horse was a real terror when he first came to us. He would jack up and dropped nearly all his jockeys – only Joe could get him to settle. “He is a half-brother to Daniel (x Guillotine out of Danasinga mare Tina) who was a Group winner for Oscar Racing here. “It’s always nice to win a race for CK (Phua Chian Kin of Oscar Racing). He’s been a good supporter and his son Oscar always gets a great thrill from racing.” Moloney, who is at his second week into a short one-month stint and opened his account aboard the Donna Logan-trained Diamond Ring last Sunday, said that Mr Malek was one of the better horses he has sat on thus far. “I was mindful of the horse who was in front. I didn’t want to be behind him,” said the Victorian jockey. “I just didn’t want him to be out of his comfort zone. He’s a pretty nice horse, I was lucky enough to have galloped him the other day. “He let down very well. He’s a real nice horse who will go through his grades. “Lee was confident he would run well today. When I was an apprentice, Lee put me on a few of his horses. “I’m lucky enough to make a good fist of it here.” The young rider kept the winning momentum going when two races later in the $50,000 Class 4 race over the mile, he booted $35 shot and standby starter Just Landed home in a driving finish. -STC View the full article

Leading jockey Michael Rodd returned from an enforced holiday a winner aboard a longshot on Sunday. The Australian rider was outed for two weeks for careless riding aboard Elite Excalibur in the Jumbo Jet Trophy on July 28. The aptly-named Fireworks (NZ) (Ekraar) two days after National Day, for his main supporter Cliff Brown, was the winning ride in the $20,000 Open Maiden Division 2 race over 1400m.Rodd said that as much as he enjoyed his break with his family, it was good to ge... View the full article